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UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (Octubre / October 2013) ISSN 1696-22065.2. Disputed Internal BordersAs shown above, Unity State has a history of internal cleavages whose expression in tribalterms has been exacerbated by the widespread manipulation of ethnicity as a means ofmobilization during the war by all parties to the conflict.Its borders, as those of all the other South Sudanese states, are inherited by previousregimes, with the colonial period being considered as a landmark. 76 Conflicts withneighbouring states (mainly Lakes and Warrap) for reasons including artificial colonialdemarcation, access to grazing land and water sources are most common during the dryseason when movements are easier and people are in need of water for themselves and theircattle. These conflicts, often expressed in terms of cattle-raiding, are usually violent anddeadly both for humans and cattle and receive most of the attention from the media and publicopinion. Efforts to solve them involve state authorities and local chiefs, but are not necessarilyarticulated as border issues. This might be because the state is still looked as a far away levelof government, having little to do with actual control, management and problem-solving oflocal daily life.Less attention is given to internal border conflicts between Unity State counties. Areport published by the South Sudan Bureau for Community Security and Small ArmsControl, the South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the UNDP in 2012assessing the typologies and causes of conflicts in Unity State counties, found that borderconflict was identified as a major problem by most of the counties surveyed. Although theareas most affected by Misseriya migrations (Abiemnom and Pariang) only mentioned theinternational border issue, all the others recognized internal border as one of the conflictissues, together with access to grazing land and water, food insecurity, small arms, etc. Twoof them, Rubkhona and Guit, even put it as the highest priority to be addressed. 77Unity State current division into Counties was made when the area went back underSPLA control. 78 Rubkhona and Mayom were created in 1999-2000 when Peter Gadet joinedthe SPLA. In 2002, when also Riek Machar was reabsorbed in the SPLA, Mayendit, Leer andPariang were created. Panyinjiar, Guit and Abiemnom were created in 2005 after the signingof the peace agreement. 79 Unlike other states in South Sudan, 80 no new counties were createdafter 2005 despite some few requests 81 that were however repulsed, perhaps because thenumber of Counties is already the same as the number of Nuer and Dinka tribes considered totraditionally inhabit the area. On the other hand, the number of Payams proliferated. Forexample, Rubkhona County Commissioner reports the creation of 6 new Payams in his countyin the last year only:“We have 6 new Payams. The old ones used to be on the northern side of the river, whilethose new ones are on the southern side because we need to bring development also76 Interview to senior official of Local Government Board, Juba January 2013; Schomerus and Allen, op. cit.77 UNDP: “Community Consultation Report - Unity State - South Sudan”, Bureau for Community Security andSmall Arms Control, South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission, (May 2012), Juba.78 Interview with Member of Parliament from Mayom Country in Unity State Legislative Assembly, Bentiu,February 2013.79 Ibid.; UNDP: “Community Consultation Report…” op. cit.80 Schomerus and Allen, op. cit.81 Interview with Member of Parliament from Rubkhona County in Unity State Legislative Assembly, Bentiu,February 2013.50
UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (Octubre / October 2013) ISSN 1696-2206there 82 . Dhorbor split in Kuerkuei, Budaang changed its name in Badaang and split intoanother one that still has no name, Ngop split into Thorbon, and two new ones are Chorand Tomodol. Every time a new Payam is formed, a new head chief is elected”. 83During my two month field research, I tried to identify some of the border disputes involvingthe northern Counties of Unity State, particularly Rubkhona, Guit, Pariang and Mayom,highlighting their immediate cause and the interests at stake in each case. The findings aresummarized in the table below. 84Disputed Countiesarea involvedWangkei Rubkhona -MayomPort (Mina) Rubkhona –GuitParts ofBentiu(Powerstation-BimRuo/Yoanyang)Rubkhona –GuitDispute details Interest ResolutionWangkei Payam is part of MayomCounty, but it is on the very borderwith Rubkhona. In 2010 peoplefrom Wangkei wanted to buildhouses in an area that was claimedby Rubkhona. There were clashesand a head chief from Mayom waskilled. In 2012 there was fightingagain and cattle-raiding.The port is on the river Nam (Bahrel Ghazal), next to the bridgelinking Bentiu to Rubkhona. Since2011-12 there is also a smallmarket. Goods arrive there by boatfrom Malakal (especially duringthe rainy season), and by roadfrom Mayom. The place is calledMina, it used to be in RubkhonaCounty but Guit authorities arenow collecting taxes both ongoods coming through the riverand from the traders.Allegedly, Rubkhona communityclaims the land because of a Leekman having planted some mangotrees in the area.Bim Ruo/Yoanyang is an areanorth-east of Bentiu where thetown is expanding, and it bordersGuit County. The area is inhabitedby a sub-clan of Leek(Rubkhona), Chiengain, and a subclanof Jikani (Guit), Chiengdukar.Tax collectionLand ownershipTax collection ongoods andmarket feesLandTax collectionThe security wassent and housesremoved. Nopermanentagreement found.Waiting for officialdemarcation.No explicit claimsfrom Rubkhonapeople, but they areunhappy with thisarrangement 85 .No effort to solvethe issue by thegovernment.Waiting for officialborder demarcation.Securityintervention. Noagreement reached.82 After oil discoveries on the northern side of the river, most of the population previously living there wasforcefully displaced to the southern part by militias. Human Rights Watch, op. cit.83 Interview with Rubkhona County Commissioner, Rubkhona, February 2013.84 Sources of information were primarily interviews with members of Unity State Legislative Assembly fromRubkhona, Pariang, Guit and Mayom Counties, Rubkhona and Pariang County Commissioners, Nyeel Payamacting Administrator, Unity State Land Commission chairperson and members of Unity State civil society basedin Bentiu Town.85 General views from average citizens were collected through informal talks in the areas of Iengas and Bim Ruo,which are close to the port area and, at times, are also claimed by Guit County. Bentiu Town, in March 2013.Some interviewees suggested that claims are not publicly raised when they involve complaining against theexpansionist attitude of Guit County because it is the governor’s home county.51
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